Coyotes Acquire Gagner, Crombeen

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Arizona Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired center Sam Gagner and right wing B.J. Crombeen from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 6th round draft choice in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Gagner

“We are very pleased to acquire a talented, young center like Sam Gagner,” said Maloney. “He has the intelligence, character and skill set we were looking for and we believe he has further growth in his game. We look forward to welcoming Sam to Arizona.”

The 5-foot-11, 202 pound Gagner has played all seven seasons of his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers appearing in 481 games and recording 101-194-295 and 244 penalty minutes (PIM). Last season (2013-14), Gagner played 67 games with the Oilers registering 10-27-37 and 41 (PIM). He ranked fifth on the team in assists and points.

The 24-year-old native of London, Ontario had his best season in 2007-08 when he collected a career-high 36 assists and 49 points. In 2011-12, Gagner scored a career-high 18 goals and registered the second most points of his career (47). He has recorded 24-or-more assists in seven consecutive seasons and collected 41-or-more points 5 times.

Gagner was acquired by Tampa Bay earlier this evening from Edmonton in exchange for Teddy Purcell. Gagner was drafted by the Oilers in the first round (6th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Crombeen

The 6-foot-2, 210 pound Crombeen has played seven seasons in the NHL with Dallas, St. Louis and Tampa Bay and has appeared in 387 games collecting 31-43-74 and 771 PIM. Last season (2013-14) with Tampa Bay, Crombeen played in 55 games registering 3-17-10 and 79 PIM.

“BJ is a great fit for us,” said Maloney. “He is a big, strong, character player who will be a leader on the ice and in our locker room.”

The 28-year-old native of Denver, Colorado had his best season in 2008-09 with the Blues when he appeared in 66 games and collected a career-high 11 goals and 17 points. Crombeen also recorded a career-high 168 PIM and 8 assists in 2009-10 with St. Louis. He has collected 112-or-more penalty minutes four times (168, 154, 122, 112) in seven seasons.

Crombeen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round (54th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.